The bloc commissioner had declared that the $730 million program would be “immediately suspended”; The EU will review the payments
The European Union revised this Monday (October 9, 2023) its previous statement that the bloc would “immediately” stop aid to the Palestinian authorities, saying instead that it would review aid due to the Hamas attacks on Israel to ensure that the money did not reach the extremist group.
The European Commission’s decision contradicts a statement by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi. He had announced the immediate suspension of all funding for the 691 million euro ($730 million) Palestine development program, as well as the review of the project and the postponement of new budget proposals.
Despite the lifting of the payment suspension, the European Commission announced the start of an “urgent review of EU aid to Palestine” and that it would examine whether and, given the circumstances, its support to the population and the Palestinian Authority needs to be adjusted.
“The aim of this review is to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables a terrorist organization to carry out attacks against Israel,” the statement said. Here is the full text (PDF 28 kB, in English).
The Commission says it will carry out the review “as quickly as possible” and coordinate any necessary actions with Member States and Union partners. The review does not cover humanitarian assistance provided under ECHO (European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations).
Learn more about the war in Israel:
- the extremist group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7;
- around 2,000 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip; Extremists have also entered Israeli cities there are reports of kidnappings of soldiers and civilians;
- Hamas claimed responsibility for the attacks in an official statement posted on its website on October 8.
- Israel responded by bombing targets in the Gaza Strip;
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas (Oct. 8) and spoke of the group’s destruction;
- World leaders like Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron condemned the attacks Jewish organizations did the same;
- Iran and Hezbollah celebrated Hamas’ action;
- Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip on Monday (October 9);
- Lula called the Hamas attacks “terrorism,” but qualified the episode;
- 1 Brazilian injured and 2 missing in Israel, says Itamaraty;
- There will be an operation by the Lula government to repatriate Brazilians to areas affected by the attacks.
- The Israeli embassy in Brazil described Hamas as an “offshoot” of the Iranian regime;
- Arthur Lira (PPAL), President of the Chamber, and Rodrigo Pacheco (PSDMG), President of the Senate, also spoke and called for peace;
- Bolsonaro (PL) rejected the attacks and linked Hamas to Lula;
- UNDERSTAND Find out what Hamas is and the history of the conflict with Israel;
- ANALYSIS The conflict is between Iran and Israel and the possibility of escalation is uncertain.
- OPINION The relationship between Hamas and Iran is an obstacle to peace, writes Claudio Lottenberg;
- PHOTOS AND VIDEOS see images of war.
WAR MAP
UNDERSTAND WHAT HAMAS IS
